Hartmut Kiewert's ZUsammenKUNFT DER SPEZIES at the Mannheim Art Association
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A different future begins with a new perspective on animals
With the exhibition ZUsammenKUNFT DER SPEZIES, the Mannheim Art Association dedicates itself to the figurative painting of Hartmut Kiewert. His pictorial worlds place the societal human-animal relationship at the center and open a thoughtful, simultaneously sensually precise space for questions of coexistence, care, and responsibility.
Figurative painting as a societal thinking space
Hartmut Kiewert, born in Koblenz in 1980, studied painting and graphics at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle and completed his diploma in 2010 with honors. Since 2008, he has been exploring the cultural status of non-human animals in his art. Pigs, cows, and chickens appear in his paintings not as decorative background figures, but as independent individuals and acting subjects.
The exhibition combines art-historically trained artwork observations with socio-political reflections. Kiewert's painting creates counter-images to a world where animals are often treated as commodities, resources, or objects. His compositions allow familiar boundaries between humans and animals to become porous and make visible how much our perception is shaped by cultural habits.
Quiet pictorial worlds, compelling questions
The exhibition atmosphere is not characterized by dramatic intensification. Kiewert's figures often remain calm and restrained. This concentrated visual language strengthens the aesthetic experience: between clearly defined forms, carefully placed light, and a precise painterly surface, a silent but lasting resonance is created.
In urban spaces, interiors, and utopian landscapes, humans and animals meet on equal terms. The familiar order of things begins to wobble. What initially appears to be a peaceful scene also bears traces of historical and contemporary violence. The images invite viewers to look more closely and question their own ideas of nature, civilization, and coexistence.
Art, animal ethics, and cultural education
ZUsammenKUNFT DER SPEZIES understands painting as a tool for cultural education. The exhibition does not convey a ready-made moral, but creates an open thinking space. Visitors can develop their own perspectives and explore the relationship between aesthetic perception, ethical responsibility, and social change.
A conversation between Hartmut Kiewert and animal ethicist Hilal Sezgin is scheduled for September 16, 2026, to accompany the exhibition. A comprehensive exhibition catalog delves into the artistic and theoretical questions of the presentation.
An art experience with lasting impact
The exhibition at the Mannheim Art Association combines contemporary painting, art-historical classification, and an intense engagement with the relationship between humans and animals. Those who engage in the artwork viewing will experience a quiet, concentrated exhibition whose images allow for continued reflection long after the museum visit.
Conclusion: Hartmut Kiewert's ZUsammenKUNFT DER SPEZIES opens a visually precise and ethically awake perspective on the shared life of different species. The exhibition enriches cultural education and creates an intense aesthetic experience. A visit to the Mannheim Art Association is worthwhile for anyone who wishes to experience contemporary art not just as observation but as an invitation to a change of perspective.
Official channels of Hartmut Kiewert:
- Instagram: no official profile found
- Facebook: no official profile found
- YouTube: no official profile found
- Website: https://hartmutkiewert.de/
